SOLUTION: One person can complete a task in 3 minutes. A second person can complete the same task in 5 minutes. How long would it take to complete the task if the two people work together?

Question 584606: One person can complete a task in 3 minutes. A second person can complete the same task in 5 minutes. How long would it take to complete the task if the two people work together?
Answer by ankor@dixie-net.com(22740) (Show Source): You can put this solution on YOUR website!
One person can complete a task in 3 minutes.
A second person can complete the same task in 5 minutes.
How long would it take to complete the task if the two people work together?
:
Let t = time required when working together
Let the completed job = 1
:
Each will do a fraction of the job, the two fractions must add up to 1
:
+ = 1
Multiplying by 15 will clear the denominators, so we have
5t + 3t = 15
8t = 15
t =
t = 1.875 min
or
1 + .875(60) = 1 min 52.5 sec
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